Interstellar Zoo No. 1 - Chapter 30.1

Chapter 30.1

They ascended the mountain in an off-road car, with Mu Ling driving and Qingjiao occupying the passenger seat.

Throughout the journey, Qingjiao kept her wolf head thrust out the window, using the wind’s scent to navigate their path—much like how Lightning would sense beasts from inside the car.

Only when they needed to change course would Qingjiao withdraw her head, nudging Mu Ling’s arm with her wet nose to signal they had taken a wrong turn. When Mu Ling corrected their route, Qingjiao would reward her with a lick to the ear.

“You don’t have to lick every time,” Mu Ling muttered, her ear thoroughly dampened.

Following this pattern, they reached the inner forest in less than two hours. After driving a while longer, Qingjiao suddenly leaned over, pressing her paw against Mu Ling’s arm before enthusiastically licking her face and neck, making it impossible to continue driving.

Mu Ling knew this meant they had reached their destination, so she quickly stopped the vehicle and wiped her face with her sleeve. As expected, Qingjiao immediately began pawing at the door.

After Mu Ling helped open it, the giant wolf bounded out in one fluid motion, taking a few steps before turning back to look at her companion.

Though Mu Ling had visited the inner forest before, this particular area was unfamiliar territory. Surveying the dense forest before her, she swallowed hard, secured a tranquilizer gun at her waist, and donned protective gear before exiting the car.

Seeing Mu Ling emerge, Qingjiao proceeded forward, moving with natural grace over rocks and branches while Mu Ling struggled to keep pace, stumbling along until she finally caught up.

About ten minutes later, Mu Ling caught the sound of faint whimpering. She watched as Qingjiao quickly jumped onto a large boulder and circled around its back. Following quickly, Mu Ling discovered a ground den behind the rock, its entrance partially obscured by a large stone. Through the gap, she spotted a small wolf wrapped in black bandages, anxiously calling out.

Initially thinking the pup had accidentally fallen in, Mu Ling was startled when Qingjiao easily scraped away the blocking stone with her powerful claws, revealing a spacious den. She realized then that Qingjiao had placed the stone there herself to contain the pup.

The moment the entrance cleared, the small wolf attempted to scramble out. Qingjiao, showing maternal concern, simply grabbed her pup by the head and lifted it out in one swift motion.

Once on solid ground, the little wolf shook itself, wobbled slightly, glanced at its mother, then turned its attention to Mu Ling. While Qingjiao bent to groom the pup’s fur, it studied Mu Ling intently, sniffing the air. Recognizing her scent, it suddenly leaped forward, its front paws clinging to her pant leg.

Looking at its disheveled state—covered in mud and dirt with fur sticking out everywhere—Mu Ling picked it up with a resigned sigh. “No one would doubt you’re your mother’s child,” she said, tapping its forehead. “You’ve both mastered the beggar look.”

The pup responded with soft whimpers, gently biting and licking her fingers. Mu Ling sat down on the boulder and let the wolf rest on her lap while she examined its bandages.

Removing the filthy wrappings revealed infected wounds with flesh clinging to the bandages. The pup whimpered as she carefully peeled them away. Qingjiao approached to sniff the wounds, attempting to lick them before Mu Ling quickly intervened.

“No, don’t lick,” she said firmly. The wounds clearly needed proper treatment—lack of care and poor conditions had led to severe deterioration. Had the pup been receiving its medication from the feeding stations maintained by Brother Xiang and Brother Wei, the infection wouldn’t have progressed so far. But their current location explained why—they had moved far from the usual feeding grounds.

The mountain’s animal feeding system operated through fixed distribution points. While this worked well for herbivores that stayed within defined territories, predators in the inner forest—wolf packs, wild boars, and retired war beasts—required a more complex approach due to their nomadic nature.

Regular feeding stations were supplemented with live prey for those who preferred hunting or couldn’t locate the standard food points.

Qingjiao had previously inhabited the eastern sector, prompting Brother Xiang and Brother Wei to mix medications into food at numerous eastern feeding points after the pup’s return. But without anyone’s knowledge, Qingjiao had quietly relocated west with her offspring. By the pup’s condition, it clearly hadn’t received any medication since returning to the mountain. Without intervention, the infection would soon expose bone.

Qingjiao had likely detected the scent of rotting flesh, driving her to seek Mu Ling’s help. Mu Ling stroked her head gently, explaining, “We need to take the little one down for treatment. The infected tissue must be removed, and proper recovery requires time in the medical ward. No more mountain adventures for a while.”

Though Qingjiao couldn’t understand the words, she paced anxiously before leaning in to lick Mu Ling’s head. Mu Ling embraced her neck, saying, “I know—we’ll heal her. Let’s go back.”

Carrying the pup, Mu Ling headed back with Qingjiao following close behind. In the car, she reclined the passenger seat to accommodate both wolves comfortably. During the descent, the restless pup repeatedly attempted to reach Mu Ling, only to be pulled back by its mother’s gentle but firm grasp, followed by caring grooming.

Qingjiao’s concern was evident as she repeatedly tried to tend the wound, each attempt thwarted by Mu Ling’s vigilant intervention. “No licking—it’ll only worsen the infection.” The gray wolf’s dark, blood-tinged eyes met hers with innocent confusion.

Mu Ling chuckled, releasing her gentle hold on Qingjiao’s muzzle to stroke her head. “Be good,” she said softly. Finally accepting the instruction, Qingjiao restricted her attention to the pup’s head.

Soon the little wolf dozed off in its mother’s embrace. Qingjiao tucked it closer, then settled down herself, facing Mu Ling as she closed her eyes. The sight melted Mu Ling’s heart—Qingjiao’s willingness to sleep beside her signaled growing trust.

Filled with pride, Mu Ling gently stroked Qingjiao’s fur. The keen-sensed Dark Snow wolf’s eyes snapped open but, recognizing her touch, merely licked its lips before returning to sleep.

The car continued down the mountain. About ten minutes later, as Mu Ling was preparing to leave this mountain area and return to the main road, there was suddenly a “crack” sound from a patch of grass in the distance. Curious, Mu Ling looked over and saw a massive tree swaying, tilting, and falling toward them!

What was happening?

Mu Ling was terrified. Seeing the tree about to crash into her off-road vehicle, she quickly slammed on the brakes—

With a screeching sound of friction—

“Bang!” The tree crashed onto the ground in front of the vehicle, the trunk landing less than half a meter from the car’s hood.

Which meant if Mu Ling hadn’t hit the brakes in time, she, Qingjiao, and the pup would have been crushed flat by the tree!

Someone was trying to kill her!

Mu Ling was both shocked and frightened. Confused and helpless, she turned her gaze toward the direction where the tree had fallen from, and saw a white figure flash through the dense shadows of the trees.

It was them!

Who was it?

The culprit?

Mu Ling didn’t dare get out of the car to chase them – she had just escaped death, and her legs were still shaking.

With trembling hands, she quickly opened her light brain. There was no signal in the mountains so it couldn’t connect to the network, but it could still record video.

Mu Ling extended the camera lens out to chase after the fleeing white figure.

Who could it be? In her own zoo district, she was actually being attacked – how could this happen?

The person must have been waiting here, knowing she would come down this way, and had pre-cut the tree trunk, planning to crush her as she passed.

Mu Ling’s thoughts raced as cold sweat broke out all over her body. She had never encountered anything like this before, and couldn’t think of anyone she had offended. Who could hate her so much that they wanted her dead?

Could it be related to her helping the military?

Major Chang had said it was strange to suddenly find medium-infected mutant beasts in the back mountain. She’d heard that some anti-government groups on remote planets specially bred mutant beasts to undermine the Federation’s authority.

Had she run into one of these crazy groups?

And because she helped the military, these people had marked her for elimination?

The more Mu Ling thought, the more scared she became. By this time, the camera lens had caught up to the fleeing white figure.

The figure was running now, but not standing upright – it was bent over, running on all fours…

On all fours?

Mu Ling: “…”

Mu Ling silently watched through the lens at the large white bear.

The bear was at least two meters long, round and robust. After pushing over the tree, it had probably heard the car and fled in the other direction.

However, as it fled, it suddenly turned its head back, looking at the “little flying bug” following it. Opening its mouth, it swung its sharp bear paw at the flying bug—

The little flying bug, which was actually the camera lens, sensed the impact and automatically dodged.